Ocena skuteczności sesji biofeedbacku HRV za pomocą stosunku mocy pasm niskich i wysokich częstotliwości, wyrażonych w jednostkach znormalizowanych

HRV biofeedback is an effective method of relaxation and the fight against certain diseases. The effect exerted on the body has been documented many times. The main problem turned out to be a quantitative assessment of the effectiveness of the session. Among many characteristics which describe the variability of the heart rate, the power ratio of the high and low bands in units of normalized frequency obtained by the method of FFT(LF/HF) were selected to the survey.The aim of this study was to examine whether power ratio of bands of low and high frequency in normalized units obtained by the FFT methods is suitable for the quantitative description of the effectiveness of biofeedback session hrv .The study group consisted of 30 healthy people aged 21-25 years without any experience of the analyzed phenomenon. The study used a non-invasive method of measuring the blood flow through the ear of the participant, then the software program described it quantitatively.It turned out that the LF/HF cannot be used for quantitative evaluation of HRV BF session without further tests, but it is advisable to carry out long-term studies with the larger population of people. A surprising result was the observation of study participants, in short stage of relaxation, before the proper part of the study. Subjects knowing that soon they will participate in the active session mentally prepared themselves on the regulation of the breath which is confirmed by the results.Biofeedback HRV to skuteczna metoda relaksacji oraz  walki z niektórymi chorobami. Efekt wywierany na organizm został już wiele razy udokumentowany. Zasadniczym problemem okazała się ilościowa ocena skuteczności sesji. Spośród wielu parametrów mogących opisać zmienność rytmu serca do badania wybrana została moc stosunku pasm niskich i wysokich częstotliwości w jednostkach znormalizowanych w metodzie FFT(LF/HF).Celem niniejszej pracy było sprawdzenie, czy moc stosunku pasm niskich i wysokich częstotliwości w jednostkach znormalizowanych w metodzie FFT nadaje się do opisu ilościowego skuteczności sesji biofeedbacku HRV. Badaniami objęto grupę 30 zdrowych osób w wieku 21-25 lat bez jakiegokolwiek doświadczenia z analizowanym zjawiskiem. Do badań wykorzystano nieinwazyjne metody pomiaru przepływu krwi przez ucho uczestnika, następnie z pomocą odpowiedniego oprogramowania opisano ilościowo wyniki.Okazało się, iż moc stosunku pasm niskich i wysokich częstotliwości w jednostkach znormalizowanych w metodzie FFT nie może być wykorzystywana do oceny ilościowej sesji BF HRV, bez przeprowadzenia badań długoterminowych na większej populacji uczestników. Zaskakującym efektem badań okazała się obserwacja uczestników w krótkim etapie poprzedzającym właściwą część badań. Osoby badane, wiedząc że za chwilę przystąpią do właściwej sesji, psychicznie nastawiały się na regulację oddechu, co potwierdzają wyniki

The power ratio of bands of low and high frequency in normalized units in the FFT method as a marker for quantitative assessment of the effectiveness of HRV biofeedback session

HRV biofeedback is an effective method of relaxation and the fight against certain diseases. The effect exerted on the body has been documented many times. The main problem turned out to be a quantitative assessment of the effectiveness of the session. Among many characteristics which describe the variability of the heart rate, the power ratio of the high and low bands in units of normalized frequency obtained by the method of FFT(LF/HF) were selected to the survey. The aim of this study was to examine whether power ratio of bands of low and high frequency in normalized units obtained by the FFT methods is suitable for the quantitative description of the effectiveness of biofeedback session hrv. The study group consisted of 30 healthy people aged 21-25 years without any experience of the analyzed phenomenon. The study used a non-invasive method of measuring the blood flow through the ear of the participant, then the software program described it quantitatively. It turned out that the LF/HF cannot be used for quantitative evaluation of HRV BF session without further tests, but it is advisable to carry out long-term studies with the larger population of people. A surprising result was the observation of study participants, in short stage of relaxation, before the proper part of the study. Subjects knowing that soon they will participate in the active session mentally prepared themselves on the regulation of the breath which is confirmed by the results.Biofeedback HRV to skuteczna metoda relaksacji oraz  walki z niektórymi chorobami. Efekt wywierany na organizm został już wiele razy udokumentowany. Zasadniczym problemem okazała się ilościowa ocena skuteczności sesji. Spośród wielu parametrów mogących opisać zmienność rytmu serca do badania wybrana została moc stosunku pasm niskich i wysokich częstotliwości w jednostkach znormalizowanych w metodzie FFT(LF/HF). Celem niniejszej pracy było sprawdzenie, czy moc stosunku pasm niskich i wysokich częstotliwości w jednostkach znormalizowanych w metodzie FFT nadaje się do opisu ilościowego skuteczności sesji biofeedbacku HRV. Badaniami objęto grupę 30 zdrowych osób w wieku 21-25 lat bez jakiegokolwiek doświadczenia z analizowanym zjawiskiem. Do badań wykorzystano nieinwazyjne metody pomiaru przepływu krwi przez ucho uczestnika, następnie z pomocą odpowiedniego oprogramowania opisano ilościowo wyniki. Okazało się, iż moc stosunku pasm niskich i wysokich częstotliwości w jednostkach znormalizowanych w metodzie FFT nie może być wykorzystywana do oceny ilościowej sesji BF HRV, bez przeprowadzenia badań długoterminowych na większej populacji uczestników. Zaskakującym efektem badań okazała się obserwacja uczestników w krótkim etapie poprzedzającym właściwą część badań. Osoby badane, wiedząc że za chwilę przystąpią do właściwej sesji, psychicznie nastawiały się na regulację oddechu, co potwierdzają wyniki

Method for the player profiling in the turn-based computer games

The following paper presents the players profiling methodology applied to the turn-based computer game in the audience-driven system. The general scope are mobile games where the players compete against each other and are able to tackle challenges presented by the game engine. As the aim of the game producer is to make the gameplay as attractive as possible, the players should be paired in a way that makes their duel the most exciting. This requires the proper player profiling based on their previous games. The paper presents the general structure of the system, the method for extracting information about each duel and storing them in the data vector form and the method for classifying different players through the clustering or predefined category assignment. The obtained results show the applied method is suitable for the simulated data of the gameplay model and clustering of players may be used to effectively group them and pair for the duels

Wpływ częstotliwości oddychania spoczynowego na parametry tachografów zmienności rytmu serca

The relaxation response is a method of overcoming stress factors. It is activated through slow breathing, which causes high heart rate variability. Higher heart rate variability increases the activity of parasympathetic nervous system causing organism to relax. The relaxation response is activated, when human organism achieves a state of inner balance, which is called the coherence. One of techniques to achieve this state of balance is breathing in the specific rhythm, which is usually around 0.1 Hz of frequency. This value is called the resonance frequency. In this study the activity of central nervous system in the specific range of breathing frequencies (0.07-0.12 Hz) has been checked in order to find an answer, if the relaxation response is triggered by one specific frequency or is there a specific range of breathing frequencies, which lead to the state of inner balance. In order to check the changes throughout human body the heart rate assessed by biofeedback technique has been used. It is a non-invasive method examining the function of sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system through the changes in natural heart rhythm. Throughout the biofeedback sessions the resonance frequency is measured. The aim of this study was to check if there is a difficulty for subjects to maintain imposed breathing rhythm and if there is only one universal resonance frequency for everyone or is there a specified range. The study confirmed the difficulty of maintaining unnatural breathing frequency. It has also showed that there is a specific range of frequency values which can be used to achieve the coherence state.Odpowiedź relaksacyjna, to sposób walki ze stresem; wiąże się ze spokojniejszym oddychaniem, które powoduje wysoką zmienność rytmu serca, w efekcie czego wzrasta aktywność parasympatycznego układu nerwowego PUN, powodując wyciszenie organizmu. Odpowiedź ta jest wyzwalana w momencie wprowadzenia organizmu w stan wewnętrznej równowagi, określany mianem koherencji. Jedną z technik osiągnięcia stanu równowagi jest oddychanie zgodne z rytmem częstotliwości rezonansowej, która przeciętnie wynosi 0.1 Hz. W tych badaniach sprawdzono zachowanie ośrodkowego układu nerwowego OUN w przedziale częstotliwości 0,07-0,12 Hz celem sprawdzenia, czy odpowiedź relaksacyjna RR dotyczy tylko jednej specyficznej częstotliwości, czy też istnieje tolerancja częstotliwości oddychania wywołująca tożsame odpowiedzi organizmu. Aby zbadać zmiany zachodzące w organizmie, posłużono się tzw. metodą biofeedback HRV. Jest to metoda nieinwazyjna, badająca poprzez zmiany rytmu serca działanie sympatycznego układu nerwowego SUN i PUN. Na takich sesjach mierzy się częstotliwość rezonansową, aby instruować uczestników – jak kierować oddechem w celu utrzymania pożądanego tempa oddychania. Analizowano sensowność utrzymywania konkretnego rytmu. Badano również, czy istnieje trudność w dostosowaniu własnego oddechu do wymaganego tempa. Badania potwierdziły problem wynikający z utrzymania sugerowanego rytmu oddychania. Wykazano również, że istnieje zakres rytmu wentylacji pozwalający uzyskać efekty podobne, jak podczas oddychania w tempie rezonansowym

Change of the State of the Natural Antioxidant Barrier of a Body and Psychological Parameters in Patients Aged above 60

Background. The goal of this study is to assess the natural antioxidant barrier of the organism and selected psychological aspects of the aging process in patients above 60 years old. Methods. The study included a total of 52 patients aged above 60 (mean age 67 ± 3.4) and 32 healthy subjects (mean age 22 ± 3.4) as a control group. All patients underwent psychological assessment using Test of Attentional Performance version 2.3 (TAP 2.3, four subtests: alertness, cross-modal integration, neglect with central task, and working memory) and biochemical analysis of venous blood concerning values of the selected parameters of oxidative stress (HT, GSH, GPXOS, GPXRBC, GRRBC1, SODRBC1, MDARBC1, NO2−/NO3−, and CP). Results. Disorders of attention were observed mainly in elderly people, but an assumption that elderly people have developed more efficient ways of working memory use than younger people may be true. Results showed the reduced effectiveness of the body’s natural antioxidant barrier in elderly people. Moderate positive and negative correlations among parameters of oxidative stress and psychological parameters were observed in the control group. Discussion. Intensification of the attention deficits and oxidative stress may be observed as one of the pathogenic factors of age-dependent diseases

Is callose a barrier for lead ions entering Lemna minor L. root cells?

Plants have developed a range of strategies for resisting environmental stresses. One of the most common is the synthesis and deposition of callose, which functions as a barrier against stress factor penetration. The aim of our study was to examine whether callose forms an efficient barrier against Pb penetration in the roots of Lemna minor L. exposed to this metal. The obtained results showed that Pb induced callose synthesis in L. minor roots, but it was not deposited regularly in all tissues and cells. Callose occurred mainly in the protoderm and in the centre of the root tip (procambial central cylinder). Moreover, continuous callose bands, which could form an efficient barrier for Pb penetration, were formed only in the newly formed and anticlinal cell walls (CWs); while in other CWs, callose formed only small clusters or incomplete bands. Such an arrangement of callose within root CWs inefficiently protected the protoplast from Pb penetration. As a result, Pb was commonly present inside the root cells. In the light of the results, the barrier role of callose against metal ion penetration appears to be less obvious than previously believed. It was indicated that induction of callose synthesis is not enough for a successful blockade of the stress factor penetration. Furthermore, it would appear that the pattern of callose distribution has an important role in this defence strategy

Method for the Player Profiling in the Turn-based Computer Games

The following paper presents the players profiling methodology applied to the turn-based computer game in the audience-driven system. The general scope are mobile games where the players compete against each other and are able to tackle challenges presented by the game engine. As the aim of the game producer is to make the gameplay as attractive as possible, the players should be paired in a way that makes their duel the most exciting. This requires the proper player profiling based on their previous games. The paper presents the general structure of the system, the method for extracting information about each duel and storing them in the data vector form and the method for classifying different players through the clustering or predefined category assignment. The obtained results show the applied method is suitable for the simulated data of the gameplay model and clustering of players may be used to effectively group them and pair for the duels

Application of ELISA Technique and Human Microsomes in the Search for 11β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Inhibitors

The metabolic syndrome is defined by impaired carbohydrate metabolism and lipid disorders and often accompanied by hypertension, all of which will lead to obesity and insulin resistance. Glucocorticoids play a regulatory role in the metabolism of proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates. There is growing evidence for a role of glucocorticoids in the development of the metabolic syndrome. The most important factor that regulates the access of endogenous glucocorticoids to receptors after release of glucocorticoids and their diffusion into the cytoplasm of target cells is the steroid metabolism involving a microsomal enzyme, 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD). The changes in intracellular glucocorticoid metabolism in the pathogenesis of obesity indicate the participation of modulation by 11β-HSD1, which may represent a new therapeutic target for the treatment of diseases such as type 2 diabetes, visceral obesity, or atherosclerosis. The aim of our study was to determine the fast and effective method to assess inhibition activity of compounds in relation with 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. The material for this study was human liver and kidney microsomes. In this study we used ELISA technique using 96-well microplates coated with antibodies which were specific for analyzed enzymes. The method can quickly and efficiently measure the inhibition of both 11β-HSD1 and 11β-HSD2. This method can be used to search for and determine inhibitors of this enzyme. Cortisone and cortisol were used as the substrates for corresponding enzyme assays. Furthermore, 3-N-allyl-2-thiouracil derivatives were used by us for comparison purposes in developing the method, although, due to their structure, those derivatives have not previously been considered as potential inhibitors of 11β-HSD1. 3-N-Allyl-2-thiouracil derivatives are a group worth considering, because by modifying their structure (e.g., by introducing other substituents into the pyrimidine ring) it will be possible to obtain an increase in the activity of compounds in this regard. In conclusion, this study shows an efficient and fast method of determining inhibition activity of compounds in relation with 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase

Distinct expression, localization and function of two Rab7 proteins encoded by paralogous genes in a free-living model eukaryote

Rab7 GTPases are involved in membrane trafficking in the late endosomal/lysosomal pathway. In Paramecium octaurelia Rab7a and Rab7b are encoded by paralogous genes. Antipeptide antibodies generated against divergent C-termini recognize Rab7a of 22.5 kDa and Rab7b of 25 kDa, respectively. In 2D gel electrophoresis two immunoreactive spots were identified for Rab7b at pI about 6.34 and about 6.18 and only one spot for Rab7a of pI about 6.34 suggesting post-translational modification of Rab7b. Mass spectrometry revealed eight identical phosphorylated residues in the both proteins. ProQ Emerald staining and ConA overlay of immunoprecipitated Rab7b indicated its putative glycosylation that was further supported by a faster electrophoretic mobility of this protein upon deglycosylation. Such a post-translational modification and substitution of Ala140 in Rab7a for Ser140 in Rab7b may result in distinct targeting to the oral apparatus where Rab7b associates with the microtubular structures as revealed by STED confocal and electron microscopy. Rab7a was mapped to phagosomal compartment. Absolute qReal-Time PCR analysis revealed that expression of Rab7a was 2.6-fold higher than that of Rab7b. Upon latex internalization it was further 2-fold increased for Rab7a and only slightly for Rab7b. Post-transcriptional gene silencing of rab7a suppressed phagosome formation by 70 % and impaired their acidification. Ultrastructural analysis with double immunogold labeling revealed that this effect was due to the lack of V-ATPase recruitment to phagolysosomes. No significant phenotype changes were noticed in cells upon rab7b silencing. In conclusion, Rab7b acquired a new function, whereas Rab7a can be assigned to the phagolysosomal pathway